By playing Tamika Catchings less, the Indiana Fever are trying to achieve more. So far, the strategy is working.

A resurgence by Catchings has coincided with a five-game winning streak by the Fever, who meet first-place New York (18-7) at 6 p.m. Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.

The Fever (16-9) are coming off the first 3-0 West Coast trip in the franchise’s 16-year history. They won a fourth consecutive road game – also a franchise first – by beating the Seattle Storm 75-63 Friday night. With nine games left, the Fever have already equaled last year’s victory total.

First-year coach Stephanie White attributed the streak to defensive execution and attentiveness to what she called hustle plays.

“It’s also what the identity of the franchise has been,” White said in a telephone interview Saturday from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. “It also helps to have Tamika. She embodies all of that.”

Catchings scored 14 points at Seattle and is averaging 15.2 during the winning streak. By design, she is averaging a career-low 25.9 minutes per game.

The Fever have a deep team – they lead the WNBA in bench scoring with 28 points a game – and are distributing the offensive burden. White said Catchings no longer must put the team on her shoulders.

“She also has her teammates to help,” White said. “That’s how we’re going to be successful.”

The Fever trailed at halftime in each of their past two games but responded with third-quarter domination. They outscored the Los Angeles Sparks 24-6 in that quarter en route to a 79-68 victory Tuesday, and they outscored Seattle 30-9.

Catchings said the Fever increased defensive intensity in the second half. She said players have been holding each other accountable since the All-Star break.

“It’s helped us as a team to know that we all hold each other accountable, but coach holds us accountable, too,” she said in a statement distributed by the Storm.

The Fever have the WNBA’s best record (8-1) since the All-Star break. In that span, they lead the league in scoring (81.3) and in turnovers forced (18.1), and they are fourth in points allowed (72.7).

The Fever have been surging despite limited availability of two centers: Erlana Larkins, who has been sidelined by a leg injury, and rookie Natalie Achonwa, who has twice left the Fever to represent the Canadian national team. Lynetta Kizer has thrived as the starting center, including a 14-point game at Seattle.

The Eastern Conference has no clear favorite. Chicago (16-11), the defending champion, sits in fourth place.

The Fever could pull within one game of first by beating the Liberty, who are 1-2 against the Fever. The teams meet again Sept. 13 at Indianapolis in the final game of the regular season. White called Sunday “a gut-check game” for the Fever, who will be tired from travel. The Fever also have home games Wednesday against Los Angeles and Friday against Atlanta.

Call Star reporter David Woods at (317) 444-6195. Follow him on Twitter: @DavidWoods007.